Free License to Love (An Agent Ex Novel) by Gina Robinson Page A

stare. “Back to the original topic. RIOT believes my fellow agent stole their secrets. He’s a famous assassin in clandestine circles and his signature was all over those two kills. They aren’t concerned with him. They know they’ll come up against him again. It’s part of the game.
    “But RIOT will welcome me into Blackledge’s crew easily enough. They want me where they can keep an eye on me and learn what I know. They can’t have a leak. Of course, they’ll never find out what I really know. I’ll convince them I know nothing.” She grinned. “When they clear me, I’m good to go.”
    That was a lie, too. They’d try to kill her either way—whether she convinced them she knew nothing or spilled all the Agency’s secrets. They weren’t the kind of thugs who took chances. Her best insurance policy was to string them along until the completion of the mission. Not that she’d tell Rock any of this. It would only make him jumpier.
    “And if not?” His gaze was penetrating.
    “I’m dead. They don’t suffer leaks.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal.
    But Rock came out of his seat and onto his feet. “What!”
    Yeah, she’d been right to keep the whole truth from him. “Calm down. They don’t know who they’re up against. I can take care of myself.”
    “Yeah, obviously. Because you’re an ace shot when you’re not windmilling in blood slicks, tripping over bodies, and no one’s nicked your gun arm.”
    She nodded. “Exactly right. Anyway, that’s a once-in-a-career bad luck situation. It won’t happen again.” She didn’t tell him stuff usually went wrong. Murphy’s Law was an integral part of the spy biz. The general rule in the Agency was that you should expect to fail half the time.
    “You’re the one who needs to be careful,” she said to divert his attention away from her and remind him of what was really what. “I’ve come back to make sure you’re safe.”
    He stared at her. “Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”
    “Can you?” She stared back. “A little flash powder won’t save you next time.”
    He studied her. “We’ll see about that.”
    An uncomfortable silence followed.
    Finally Rock shook his head. “This whole situation’s a little awkward, isn’t it? Is this the part of the conversation where I ask what you’ve been up to these past few years? I’m sure you know my every move so there’s no point discussing me.”
    That sounded more like the old Rock, the one who had a sense of humor and irony.
    “There’s not much to tell,” she said. Which was an out-and-out lie. She wished she could tell him about her pregnancy, and the birth of their son, congratulate him on being a daddy, and see his joy. Tell Rock how he’d given her the best gift of all and made life worth living. Share Stone’s first smile and steps. But the revelation of that secret hung on the mission. And could only ever be told if she were successful.
    “That’s not classified, that is. Mostly I spent my time in hot water, confined to desk work and playing nursemaid to a recovering agent who was blown up in the field.” She couldn’t keep the grumble out of her voice.
    “You’ll be pleased to hear, though, that I kept up my skills. As part of his therapy, I taught that agent a bit of magic.”
    “None of my tricks, I hope.” Rock’s voice held the slightest hint of a teasing edge, which was encouraging.
    “Of course not! What do you think I am?” On second thought, that was a bad question. She had a pretty good idea what he thought she was and it wasn’t pleasant. “I know how to keep a secret.”
    “Yeah, I gathered that.”
    “I suppose I deserve your sarcasm, Rock. But really, put this in perspective—I saved thousands of people. Thousands. How many people can say that?”
    He didn’t answer. How could he? She had him fair and square.
    “Now,” she said. “Have I satisfied your curiosity sufficiently? Can we get down to the mission? We only have a few hours